Ear-protector



(No Model.)

G. B. HAMILTON.

EAR PROTECTOR.

Patented July 22, 1890.

'to the ear.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE B. HAMILTON, OF MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE.

EAR- PROTECTOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 432,612, dated July 22, 1890.

Application filed October 1, 1889.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE B. HAMILTON, of Memphis, Shelby county, Tennessee, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Ear-Protectors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to devices for excluding water from the ears of bathers, as well as protecting the car from other hurtful influences, and has for its object to providea protector for this purpose which is easily atfixed to and removed from the ear, is securely retained and inconspicuous when in place, and is very simple and effectual.

The invention consists in a protector of novel construction, substantially as hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompany: ing drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating a protector embodying my invention applied Fig. 2 is a front View of the said protector when detached. Fig. 3 is a side view of the same. Figs. land 5 illustrate modifications hereinafter referred to.

Like letters of reference designate corresponding parts in the several figures.

In making the ear-protector illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 a piece of elastic wire is bent to form a substantially ear-shaped open frame A, to fit yieldingly and removably around the base and behind the lobes of the ear, as shown in Fig. 1, the lower end of the wire extending forward behind the lower lobe of the ear and then upward in front of the same, so as to form a hook which engages the lower part of the base of the ear and prevents the frame from upward displacement. The upper free end B of the wire is bent inward over the aperture of the ear and its end turned to- Eerial No. 325,704. (No model.)

ward the aperture, forming a short shank C. On the inner end of the shank C is soldered or otherwise secured a plate D, to which is secured a compressible plug E, adapted to enter and fill the ear-aperture.

The plug E may be made of rubber in the hollow tapering form shown in Figs. 3 and 5, having a lateral flange E, which may be of elliptical or circular shape to cover the earaperture as the same may vary in size; or it may be of sponge, as shown in Fig. 4, or any other suitable material. I11 some cases, to lend additional elasticity to the plug, the shank 0 maybe coiled to form a spiral spring, as shown in Fig. 5..

The plug-holding frame being open and elastic permits the ready application or re-- moval of the plug, yet securely holds the same in place without inconvenience to the wearer, and being mostly behind the lobes of the ear is inconspicuous.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent--- In an ear-protector, the combination, with an elastic plug to fit the ear, of an open plugholding frame made of elastic wire to fit closely around the base of the ear, both the upper and lower ends of said wire extending forward behind the upper and lower ear-lobes and then, respectively, downward and up ward toward each other in front of the ear, whereby the frame is held from accidental displacement in any direction, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE E. HAMILTON. Witnesses:

CLARENCE BURGER, HENRY MEININGER. 

